Lynn Crilly - Hope with Eating Disorders

As a parent, I feel Lynns book is an essential guide and support for anyone concerned about their sons or daughters eating habits, self-esteem and general wellbeing.
Bobby Davro entertainer

Men Get Eating Disorders Too fully supports Hope With Eating Disorders. As an issue so often associated with women, we are pleased the specific and unique needs of men are recognised in this fantastic book.
Men Get Eating Disorders Too (mengetedstoo.co.uk)

As a former sufferer myself of what is still considered a bit of a taboo subject, I found this book delivers information in a friendly, easy to understand way, making you want to read on.
Suzanne Dando, Olympic gymnast

Lynns passion and determination to help people whose lives are affected by eating disorders is inspiring.
Jo Swinson, MP

I support Lynn with her book as it will make people more aware of eating disorders and the impact they have, not only on the person directly affected but also their family and friends.
John Stapleton, television presenter

I am so pleased to have contributed to a book with such a positive and inspiring message.
Nicki Waterman, fitness expert

Now and again you meet someone special. Someone whose care and generosity sets out to make a genuine difference. Lynn is one such person.
Steve Blacknell, broadcaster/media advisor

So often, we are approached by people concerned about a son or daughter, friend or colleague with an eating disorder, asking us what they can do. Now, finally we have an answer for them read this book!
Ruth Rogers and Natasha Devon, Co-directors Body Gossip

First published and distributed in the United Kingdom by:
Hay House UK Ltd, 292B Kensal Rd, London W10 5BE. Tel.: (44) 20 8962 1230;
Fax: (44) 20 8962 1239. www.hayhouse.co.uk

Published and distributed in the United States of America by:
Hay House, Inc., PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100. Tel.: (1) 760 431 7695 or (800) 654 5126;
Fax: (1) 760 431 6948 or (800) 650 5115. www.hayhouse.com

Published and distributed in Australia by:
Hay House Australia Ltd, 18/36 Ralph St, Alexandria NSW 2015. Tel.: (61) 2 9669 4299;
Fax: (61) 2 9669 4144. www.hayhouse.com.au

Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by:
Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd, PO Box 990, Witkoppen 2068. Tel./Fax: (27) 11 467 8904.
www.hayhouse.co.za

Published and distributed in India by:
Hay House Publishers India, Muskaan Complex, Plot No.3, B-2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110 070.
Tel.: (91) 11 4176 1620; Fax: (91) 11 4176 1630. www.hayhouse.co.in

Distributed in Canada by:
Raincoast, 9050 Shaughnessy St, Vancouver, BC V6P 6E5. Tel.: (1) 604 323 7100;
Fax: (1) 604 323 2600

Lynn Crilly 2012

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise be copied for public or private use, other than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews, without prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual wellbeing. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-1-84850-892-7 in print
ISBN 978-1-84850-906-1 in ePub format
ISBN 978-1-84850-905-4 in Mobipocket format

This book is dedicated to

the memory of my Aunty Babs: thank you for giving me the strength to start writing this book,

AND to my wonderful husband Kevin and our beautiful daughters Charlotte and Samantha for giving me the strength to finish it!

First and foremost I would like to say a big thank you to my husband Kevin, who has always given me his unconditional love and support. His unquestioning belief in me has given me the strength to achieve everything I have so far I love you more now than ever before! To our beautiful twin daughters Charlotte and Samantha, I am very proud of the gorgeous young ladies you have become, and love you both very much. Mum and dad, you have always been there for me with your constant love and support. Thank you to my brother Steve and my sister-in-law Sue.

A warm thank you to Kate, Wendy, Jilly, Gerry, Jill, Leanne, Hannah and all my wonderful friends for your unconditional friendship, love and support throughout the years it means everything to me to know you are always there.

Special thanks go to our GP John Dalzell, who has always given us as a family and me as a professional his unquestioning support. To all the staff at Hinchley Wood Secondary School, for everything you did not only for Sam but Charlotte and the family, too thank you!

Thank you to all my clients, both past and present, who have put their trust and belief in me and my work, which has enabled me to help and support them to make the positive changes needed in their lives and, in doing so, changing mine too.

Kyra, you have to be one of my biggest supporters thank you.

Professor Janet Treasure, who has always actively encouraged me within my role as an eating disorder counsellor, and supported me in every way possible thank you so much.

Thank you to my friend Bobby Davro for always encouraging and believing in me.

A special mention to Zowie Edwards, who joined me halfway through my journey of writing this book and helped me through to the end. Thank you for your time, love and patience.

Thank you to my good friend Andy and his fantastic team at DDM Marketing.

I have been privileged to have been supported by so many wonderful people in and out of the public eye, who have all trusted and believed in me enough to make a contribution to my book. I thank you from the bottom of my heart because, without you guys, I would not have a book!

Lastly, thank you to Max Kirsten for encouraging me to approach Carolyn Thorne and the team at Hay House Publishing who, as promised, have given me their professional guidance and support in a very sensitive and caring way.

Thank you to them and indeed again to everyone mentioned above, and all the other people who have helped and supported me along the way. Without you all, I know I would not be who and where I am today, and certainly would never have been in a position to write this book.

Working with people with eating disorders for over 30 years in order to understand the illness and to help on the way to recovery, I have often heard that one of the most important things that carers can do is maintain hope. This book encapsulates the essence of how hope can be generated and sustained. Hope can be built on understanding more about the illness, building resilience in young people and their families to withstand some of the pressures that can adversely shape development, and increasing trust that recovery is attainable.

A junior doctor described her 12-year illness in a Personal View to the British Medical Journal. She said she could summarize her illness in one word: isolation. Although numerous paths lead to isolation, including biological and psychological factors, social factors are of key importance. The noxious influence of shame and stigma drives the individual, and their family, too, into a secret cell of loneliness bereft of the social glue of shared eating and connection.